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County staff honored for placemaking program that added gateway signs, murals and Arbor Day plantings
Summary
Roanoke County accepted a Virginia Association of Counties achievement award for its placemaking program, which staff said included 16 gateway signs (2022–2026), storm-drain murals at libraries, a Love Works sign and annual Arbor Day tree plantings involving students and staff.
Roanoke County’s placemaking program received a 2026 achievement award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO), and the board thanked staff during the July 14 meeting.
Joe Lerch of VACO presented the award and said the 2026 competition received 103 entries and selected 40 winners from 26 counties. "This is the 24th, annual achievement awards program. We've received a 103 entries this year in 2026, and '40 winners were selected from 26 counties," Lerch said. County planning staff (identified in the meeting as Isaac and others) described four program elements: installation of 16 new gateway signs with Virginia's Blue Ridge branding between 2022 and 2026 (with one additional sign planned when a diverging-diamond interchange is finished), murals painted on storm drains at public libraries following a public design competition, a locally produced Love Works sign, and Arbor Day tree plantings at local schools and libraries. Supervisors praised the cross-departmental effort and posed for a photo with staff and the VACO representative.
The board acknowledged the award as recognition of interdepartmental cooperation among planning, economic development, parks, libraries, general services and other county staff; no action items were associated with the award presentation.
